• Applied Microscopy
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• 제46권4호
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• pp.193-200
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• 2016

Male reproductive organs are strongly affected by estrogen signaling mediated via the estrogen receptor. In this study, propyl pyrazole triol (PPT), an estrogen receptor alpha agonist, was subcutaneously injected in adult male mice every 2 days for a total duration of 8, 16, or 24 days. Histological changes in the reproductive organs, including the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymides, were observed. The weight of the reproductive organs decreased in the PPT group. In addition, the diameter of the seminiferous tubules decreased in the PPT group compared with the control group. The epithelial cell height decreased in the initial segment of the epididymis, whereas the luminal diameter increased in the efferent ductules of the PPT group. PPT induced irregular morphology of stereocilia in the luminal region of the initial segment. Therefore, PPT treatment at high concentrations had inhibitory effects in the reproductive organs of adult male mice. These findings suggest that short-term treatment with estrogen receptor agonist causes histological changes in the testes, efferent ductules, and epididymis, which are similar to those caused by estrogen receptor antagonist treatment. Therefore, the estrogen receptor may have functional roles in male reproductive organs, implying that treatment with an estrogen receptor agonist can affect male fertility.

• 한국패류학회지
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• 제20권1호
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• pp.55-63
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• 2004

Gonadosomatic index, condition index and reproductive cycle with the gonadal development of the female Octopus ocellatus were investigated by histological observations and morphometric data, from January to December, 2000. And changes in biochemical components of the ovary and the trunk tissues including the digestive organ associated with gonadal development were studied by biochemical analysis from January to October, 2001. The specimens were collected at the coastal waters of Buan, Jeollabuk-do, Korea, from January 2000 to October 2001. O. ocellatus is a dioecious organism. The gonad of O. ocellatus locates medially in posterior region of the body. Morphology of the ovary shows round and oval in shape, the average diameter and external colour of ripe ovary was 32 mm and semitransparent light brown in colour. As the ovary was getting mature, transparent elongated eggs covered with chorion were present in the ovarian cavity. Monthly changes in the gonadosomatic index (GSI) showed a similar pattern with those of the condition index. The GSI and condition index began to increase in March and reached the maximum in April. And then, their values decreased from May and reached the minimum in September. Reproductive cycle of O. ocellatus can be categorized into five successive stages: early developing stage (September to December), late developing stage (November to March), ripe stage (March to May), partially spawned stage (April to June), and degenerative/resting stage (June to October). Follicle cells attached to an oocyte were involved in vitellogenesis in the cytoplasm of the vitellogeneic oocyte and formation of chorion (secondary egg membrane) of the ovarian eggs. Spawning occurred between April and June. The spawning period was once a year and the peak took place between May and June. This species belongs to semelparity. According to changes in biochemical contents of the ovary and the digestive organ, monthly variations of moisture, total protein, total lipid and glycogen contents (%) in the ovary showed a negative correlationship with those of the trunk tissues including the digestive organ. Accordingly, it is assumed that the ovary only may be received nutrient supply (total lipid content) for gonadal development from the trunk tissues including the digestive organ (r = -0.55, p < 0.05).

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.167-173
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• 2005

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a monomer used in the manufacture of a multitude of chemical products, including epoxy resins and polycarbonate. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of BPA administration on reproductive characteristics and blood hematological and chemical values in offspring of pregnant dams treated with BPA. BPA was administrated to pregnant mice by intraperitoneally injection with 0, 0.05, 0.5 and 5.0 mg/kg B.W. for 5 times at 3 days interval on gestation days 1-16. There were no treatment-related effects of BPA on reproductive organ weight in male offsprings at 45 days-of-age, but body weight was the lowest in 5.0mg BPA group when compared to other groups (P<0.05). No differences in semen characteristics (sperm concentration, viability, motility and abnormality) were observed between the control and BPA treatment groups. The WBC, HB, HT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, albumin, BUN and total protein of blood hematological and chemical values in male offsprings were not difference for any treatment groups, but RBC value in BPA groups was significantly increased comparing to the control group (P<0.05). The PLT value was slightly higher in 5.0mg BPA groups than in any other group, but not significantly difference among the experimental groups. In female offsprings, the effects of BPA didn't affect to the body and ovary weight, but the uterus weight in 5.0mg BPA group was slightly heavier than that of control group (P>0.05). No statically significant difference in blood hematological values in female offsprings were observed between the control group and BPA groups, but the concentration of albumin and BUN were significantly higher in 0.5mg BPA group when compared to control and other BPA treatment groups (P<0.05). The histological evaluation of testis and ovary in growing offspring at 45 days-of-age was not difference between the control group and BPA groups, but endometriosis of the uterus in female offspring was dramatically increased in 0.5 and 5.0mg BPA groups. These founding suggest that low concentration of BPA might not have a important role on reproductive ability or blood metabolite in offspring of pregnant dams treated with BPA.

• 한국해양생명과학회지
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• 제8권2호
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• pp.178-185
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• 2023

본 연구는 낙지의 생식생태 이해에 필요한 수컷 생식기관과 정포의 미세해부학적 구조를 기재하였다. 낙지는 교접완의 유무를 통하여 성을 구별할 수 있는 성적이형을 갖는 종이다. 수컷 생식기관은 정소, 일차수정관, 저정낭, 이차수정관, 정포선, 정포낭으로 구성된다. 정소는 조직학적으로 정세관형이었으며, 수컷 생식세포들은 층상배열상을 보였다. 일차수정관은 정소와 저정낭을 연결하는 관으로 상피층과 결합조직으로 이루어져 있었다. 저정낭은 일차수정관과 이차수정관의 사이에 위치하며, 상피층은 상피세포와 점액세포로 구성된다. 점액세포는 AB-PAS (pH 2.5) 반응에서 푸른색, AF-AB (pH 2.5) 반응에서 보라색으로 반응하였다. 이차수정관은 저정낭과 정포선을 연결하는 짧은 관으로 내강에 주름이 발달하였다. 정포선은 다수의 관상선으로 이루어져 있었으며, 분비세포는 호산성 과립을 가지고 있었다. 정포낭은 주머니 모양으로 내강에 주름이 발달하였으며, 상피층에 공포상의 분비세포가 존재하였다. 정포는 길이 약 83.5 mm로 전방부의 당김사, 중간부의 발사체와 고정체, 후방부의 정자 저장부로 구성되어 있었다.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제2권3호
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• pp.290-300
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• 2011

Objectives: There is limited data regarding the toxicity of methylcyclohexane, despite its wide use in rubber adhesives, paint diluents, and cleansing agents. This study aimed to verify the toxicity and influence on the reproductive system of methylcyclohexane after its repeated injection in Sprague Dawley (SD) rats. Methods: Methylcyclohexane was injected subcutaneously into male and female SD rats once a day, five times a week, for 13 weeks at different doses (0, 10, 100, and 1,000 mg/kg/day) for each group. The toxicity of testing material was verified by observing the change in body and organ weight, hematological change, pathological findings, and effect on the reproductive system at each different concentration. Results: In the 1,000 mg/kg/day group, there were cases of animal deaths. In animals that survived, hematological changes, including a decrease in the red blood cell count, were observed. A considerable weight gain or loss and pathological abnormalities in the liver, kidney, and other organs were found. However, the 10 and 100 mg/kg/day groups did not cause deaths or other specific abnormalities. In terms of reproductive toxicity, there were changes in hormone levels, including a significant decrease in hormones such as estradiol and progesterone (p < 0.001) in male animals. Menstrual cycle change for female animals did not show concentration dependency. Conclusion: When injected repeatedly for 13 weeks, methylcyclohexane proved to be toxic for the liver, heart, and kidney at a high dose. The absolute toxic dose was 1,000 mg/kg/day, while the no observed adverse effect level was less than 100 mg/kg/day. The substance exerted little influence on the reproductive system.

• Reproductive and Developmental Biology
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.67-75
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• 2011

The faulty regulation of imprinting gene lead to the abnormal development of reconstructed embryo after nuclear transfer. However, the correlation between the imprinting status of donor cell and preimplantation stage of embryo development is not yet clear. In this study, to determine this correlation, we used the porcine spermatogonial stem cell (pSSC) and fetal fibroblast (pFF) as donor cells. As the results, the isolated cells with laminin matrix selection strongly expressed the GFR ${\alpha}$-1 and PLZF genes of SSCs specific markers. The pSSCs were maintained to 12 passages and positive for the pluripotent marker including OCT4, SSEA1 and NANOG. The methylation analysis of H19 DMR of pSSCs revealed that the zinc finger protein binding sites CTCF3 of H19 DMRs displayed an androgenic imprinting pattern (92.7%). Also, to investigate the reprogramming potential of pSSCs as donor cell, we compared the development rate and methylation status of H19 gene between the reconstructed embryos from pFF and pSSC. This result showed no significant differences of the development rate between the pFFs ($11.2{\pm}0.8%$) and SSCs ($13.3{\pm}1.1%$). However, interestingly, while the CTCF3 methylation status of pFF-NT blastocyst was decreased (36.3%), and the CTCF3 methylation status of pSSC-NT blastocyst was maintained. Therefore, this result suggested that the genomic imprinting status of pSSCs is more effective than that of normal somatic cells for the normal development because the maintenance of imprinting pattern is very important in early embryo stage.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.483-491
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• 2009

In vitro produced porcine embryos have potential application in reproductive biotechnology. However, their development potential has been very low. This study evaluated the in vitro developmental ability and quality of cloned and parthenogenetic porcine embryos having 2-4 cells or 5-8 cells on Day 2 of in vitro culture. Analysis of results showed that 2 to 4 cell embryos had higher ability to form blastocysts than 5 to 8 cell embryos (p<0.05). Blastocysts produced from culture of 2 to 4 cell embryos also contained higher cell numbers and had lower BAX:BCLxL transcript ratio than those produced from 5 to 8 cell embryos (p<0.05), thereby suggesting 2 to 4 cell embryos have higher development potential. Further investigation revealed that 5 to 8 cell embryos had higher incidence (100${\pm}$0.0%) of blastomeric fragmentation than 2 to 4 cell embryos (15.2${\pm}$5.5% for parthenogenetic and 27.7${\pm}$7.1% for cloned embryos). This suggests that low development potential of 5 to 8 cell embryos was associated with blastomeric fragmentation. In conclusion, we have shown that morphological selection of embryos based on cell number on Day 2 of in vitro culture could offer a practical and valuable non-invasive means to select good quality porcine embryos.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.224-238
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• 2008

The aim of this study is to confirm the physicochemical property and hazard of thinner (012), which is a diluent of enamel paint used for floor coating for waterproofing and oil painting for the outer wall. The literatures of physicochemical property and hazard of thinner were surveyed and its physicochemical property were evaluated. And then, the inhalation toxicity of thinner affecting the central nervous system and reproductive organs in rats were examined by subchronic (6 h./day. 5 days/ week for 13 weeks) inhalation test. 1) According to the 13-week subchronic inhalation test, there were no significant changes in clinical test and body weight. However, a significant evidence of toxicity was observed in the hematological test and organ weight such as heart, kidney, liver and brain (p<0.01) in the 200 ppm and 1,000 ppm exposure groups in a dose response manner. In the histopathology analysis, there were no significant evidence of toxicity. Therefore, thinner was not classified as an organ targeted toxic agent. In case of Harmfulness, it could be classified as a chronic toxic agent 3($500 ppm/4hr, rat). 2) The reproductive toxicity such as extension of the period of estrous cycle, reduction of serum estradiol concentration and increase of frequency of the abnormal sperm was observed in the 1,000 ppm exposed animals. 3) The result of the physicochemical property of the test material showed that the specific gravity was 0.793, boiling point $155.8^{\circ}C$, steam pressure 2.1 kPa, ignition point $34.5^{\circ}C$, and spontaneous ignition point $280^{\circ}C$. The endothermic and exothermic values were 371.4 J/g and 159.1 J/g. respectively. The explosion limit was 214 mg/l. These data showed that thinner could be classified as an explosion agent level 1.2 and ignitive liquid agent 3 ($23-60^{\circ}C$) according to the notification No. 2008-1 of the Labor Ministry, "Classifying Standard of Chemical Materials."

• Applied Microscopy
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.31-58
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• 1985

The morphological study on different types of cells of reproductive organ including spermatogenesis in the adult planaria was performed to observe their cytochemical and ultrastructural characteristics. 1. Spermatogenesis The circular luminated material appears immediately inside the nuclear envelope of early spermatid and is found also in the nucleus of sperm, but typical acrosomal structures cannot be observed. Approximately ten of small-sized mitochondria occur around the nucleus in the transitional phase from primary spermatocyte to secondary spermatocyte, but in sperm a long mitochondrion is closely associated with nucleus, parellel to long axis of it. The sperm has a relatively long head connected with two tails via hollow neck. 2. Reproductive organ The penis bulb and the bursa stalk were observed. (1) Penis bulb The cells constituted penis bulb are classified into six types on the basis of ultrastructure of the cells and cytochemistry of the cytoplasmic granules. 1) A-type cells: These cells exhibiting low electron density are mainly occupied by large nucleus. These cells possess two different types of granules: highly electron-dense round granules with an average size of $0.9{\mu}m$, and electron-dense granules exhibit PAS-positive reaction. 2) B-type cells contain PAS-positive granules with the size of about $0.4{\mu}m$. They are rich in free ribosomes and mitochondria. 3) C-type cells are found to be dark cells due to high electron-density. These cells are largely occupied by large nucleus. 4) D-type cells: These cells are seen as light cells which have poorly developed cell organelles. 5) E-type tells: These cells contain a large number of glycogen granules which occupy most of cell. 6) F-type cells: These arc parietal epidermal cells surrounding the genital antrum. These cells are characterized by their finger-like shapes and the presence of a number of electron-dense, irregularly-shaped structures inside cells. The relatively large electron-lucent granules can be also found. The F-type cells possess numerous microvilli on their free surfaces. (2) Bursa stalk The cells constituted bursa stalk are classified into 3 types on the basis of cell shapes and presences of electron-dense or electron-lucent granules. 7) G-type cells with a long cytoplasmic process. They have large nuclei and poorly developed cell organelles. 8) H-type cells: These cells are characterized by the presence of a long cytoplasmic process and relatively highly electron-dense cytoplasmic profile. They have poorly developed cell organelles. 9) I-type cells contain large electron-lucent granules which exhibit negative reactions with three kinds of cytochemical staining methods used in this experiment. The fine electron-dense structures can be found inside these granules.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제9권4호
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• pp.460-465
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• 1999

In the giant freshwater prawn Macrobrachium rosenbergii, the paired testes were united by the testes bridge in a H-shape. During mating male discharged two hemispermtophores from right and left genital pore and they were joined and formed a compound spermatophore in peach shape. Hemispermatophore was considered to be produced at proximal and middle vas deferens region. The compound spermatophore consisted of an eosinophilic inner matrix, a basophilic outer matrix and paired sperm mass burried in the basophilic matrix. The size of compound spermatophore was 6.4∼ 9.3 mm in length and 2.4∼5.1 mm in width regardless of carapace length. After the spermatophore was deposited on female's ventral sternum behind of 5th pereiopod, it was moved to the ventral surface of 3rd and 4th pereiopods by means of the beating of male's 1st and 2nd pleopods.